Academics

Academic Programs

The Fundamentals of Engineering Program provides significant academic support
and a variety of educational and social opportunities for first year students to
help them adjust to the new responsibilities of university life and to succeed
in their chosen major.

Common Freshman Year

Students entering the Statler College are accepted on one of three Engineering Tracks, depending
upon a set of
entrance requirements. This provides time for students to learn more about
each engineering major so they can make a more informed decision. After the completion
of 6 core courses, students can then enter into their chosen engineering discipline
as long as there is space available in the program. The requirements to enter an
engineering discipline are:

ENGL 101

CHEM 115

MATH 154 or MATH 155

ENGR 101

ENGR 102

ENGR 199

All core courses must have a grade of C or better

Cumulative GPA >= 2.25

Note that because General Engineering students must take pre-requisite math and
chemistry courses during their first semester, they typically take three semesters
to complete the required "freshman" courses. Also, it is recommended that students
complete PHYS 111 and MATH 156 during their freshman year because they serve
as pre-requisites for most sophomore level courses.

Fundamentals of Engineering Courses

First year engineering courses are designed to help students build problem solving
skills and technical communication skills. Working individually and in teams, students
use a variety of methods and tools to solve engineering problems and to present
their solutions clearly and effectively, both orally an in writing. Strong teamwork
and communication skills are essential to a successful engineering career and students
begin developing and honing these skills throughout the first year.

Suggested Course Schedules and Study Resources

Study Resources

The Fundamentals of Engineering Program believes in providing our students with
high levels of academic support/study resources. The Eugene V. Cilento Learning
Center is open 5 days a week and provides assistance in all freshman
math and science courses. The Statler College has contacts in both the Math and
Chemistry Learning Centers, and maintains a list of private tutors.

Choosing your major

The classes that are taken in the Fall of the sophomore year depend on the specific
engineering major of the student. Therefore, the student will be required to declare
a specific engineering discipline at the end of the Spring semester. During the
advising appointment, the student will fill out a form indicating their choice.
Acceptance into a major is dependent on completion of Chemistry 115, Math 154 or
Math 155, Engineering 101, Engineering 102, Engineering 199, and English 101, all
with an earned grade of C or better in those Freshman Core classes as well
as a 2.25 or better cumulative GPA (
note that admission into a specific engineering program is dependent upon available
space
). Students who meet the requirements will be sent an acceptance letter over
the summer. This letter will contain the name of their new advisor from the specific
engineering department. To declare a major, please complete the
Declaration of Major Form.

Scholarships

Incoming freshmen are automatically considered for merit-based scholarship at the
time they submit their application to WVU. Engineering scholarship monies are limited
so early application to WVU is strongly encouraged.

What kinds of things do engineers work on?

Engineering is a diverse discipline offering numerous opportunities. These include:

aircraft & spacecraft systems

pollution control

new materials development

coal and mineral mining

transportation systems

building construction

computer development

electronic systems

oil/gas production and transportation

communication and information systems

noise control and acoustics

solar energy

and just about anything else you can think of!

Are scholarships available?

West Virginia University offers scholarships based on academic performance in high
school and ACT/SAT test scores. Sixty eight percent (68%) of the 2002 freshman
class received a scholarship from the university. Incoming freshmen can also apply
for the West Virginia, Engineering, Science, and Technology scholarship. This scholarship
is renewable every year, if the student maintains a 3.0 GPA. The Benjamin M. Statler
College of Engineering and Mineral Resources offers scholarships to students based
on their academic performance in our college. First time a student can apply for
an engineering scholarship is in the sophomore year after transferring in a specific
engineering major.

What if I took AP courses in high school?

WVU accepts several AP classes for college credit, as long as you make the required
passing grade on the AP test. These could count as science, math, or general elective
courses. You will be able to schedule for the next appropriate courses when your
AP credits are visible on your transcript.
AP Transfer Equivalencies

Can I get employment experience while in school?

We now offer the option to participate in a Cooperative Education and Internship
Program. This experience enables you to integrate your academic study on campus
with practical experience in an employment setting consistent with your major field
of study. Co-op students work three semesters throughout their five-year curriculum.
Internships involve an academic semester or a summer term. For more information
visit the
Cooperative Education program web site.